Electric valves



mm, 1970 R, 'NEFF ETALQ 3,505,689

ELECTRIC VALVES Filed 001;. 17, 1966 INVENTORS ROBERT J. NE FF GEORGE W.ARMSTRONG FLUSH 9/ /00 FILL 90 FIG-4 V DC. POWER IN United States Patent3,505,689 ELECTRIC VALVES Robert J. Natl, R.R. 1, Medway, Ohio 45341,and

George W. Armstrong, 284 E. Dayton Drive, Fairborn, Ohio 45324 FiledOct. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 587,132 Int. Cl. E03d 13/00 US. Cl. 4-100 3Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Electric solenoid valves for operationon low voltage DC current are controlled with holding circuits employingmagnetic reed switches magnetically associated with the solenoid coils.A non-magnetic insert is received within the axially open end of thecoil and one or more reed switches are inserted therein. Also, electrictoilet circuits are disclosed employing reed switches magneticallyassociated with the solenoid-operated flush and/or fill valves.

use with the valves and circuits shown and claimed in the US. patent ofArmstrong et al. 3,082,433 issued Mar. 26, 1963 and entitled WaterClosets.

It is accordingly an important object of this invention to provide adirect-current operated electric flow control valve and circuit in whicha reed switch is magnetically associated with the solenoid coil of thevalve and which may be connected to provide a holding circuit for thevalve.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a circuitincluding a magnetically-operated, reed-type switch which is connectedin a holding circuit for a DC. operated solenoid valve with which it ismagnetically associated, and in which the reed switch carries only thecurrent necessary to maintain the operation of the valve and istherefore not subject to the inductive breaking voltage developed by thesolenoid coil.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of asolenoid-operated flow control valve which in-.

corporates a reed switch.

A more specific object of this invention is the provision of asolenoid-operated flow control valve in which a reed switch ispositioned and supported Within a nonmagnetic insert which, in turn, isreceived within the hollow=of the solenoid, for supporting the reedswitch in a region of high magnetic flux.

A further specific object of this invention is the provision of circuitsparticularly adapted for the control of electric toilets of the generaltypes disclosed in the aboveidentifie'd US. Patent 3,082,433.

More specifically, an object of this invention is the provision ofsimplified operating circuits for electric toilets in which the need fortiming switches or holding relays is eliminated.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an electrictoilet control circuit which is particularly adapted for promotingflushing of low profile toilets in which a portion of the water tank maybe positioned below the level of the bowl.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings andthe appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged vertical section of a solenoidoperated flowcontrol valve constructed according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a wiring diagram of an electric toilet control circuit usingtwo valves;

FIG. 3 is a further wiring diagram of an electric toilet control circuitin which one valve is used;

FIG. 4 is a further wiring diagram of an electric toilet circuit inwhich three valves are used for operation with low profile toilets; and

FIG. 5 shows a modified form of the reed switch retaining assembly usedin the circuit of FIG. 4.

Referring to the figures of the drawings which illustrate preferredembodiments of the invention, an electric solenoid-operated valve whichmay control the flow of liquid or a gas is shown at in FIG. 1 as havinga body forming a fluid inlet 12 and an outlet 13. The valve 10 is of theneedle or pilot-operated type in which a pilot valve controls the flowbetween the inlet 12 and the outlet 13. The valve body 10 may be formedof molded metal or plastic material, and forms an annular land 15 insurrounding relation to the outlet 13.

The valve further includes an elastomeric diaphragm which is positionedin flow-stopping relation to the outlet 13, and includes an outerannular flange portion 21 which forms a fluid tight seal with the body10 and an inner enlarged central portion 22 which has a lower surface 23movable into closing relation with the annular land or sealing surface15 of the body 10. Further, the diaphragm 20 is formed with a centralmetering orifice 25 and one or more bleed orifices 26, as shown in FIG.1.

The chamber or space 28 formed above the diaphragm 20 is sealed andclosed by a suitable non-magnetic housing or sleeve 30 which has itslower flanged end secured in sealing relationship with the diaphragm 20'at the annular flange portion 21 and which is secured in place on thebody by an annular keeper plate 31 and a series of screws 32. Thehousing 30 has an elongated upper extension 34 which forms means forguiding and retaining an elongated pilot valve member 35 for movementbetween a raised flow-permitting position, as shown in broken lines inFIG. 1, and a lower position in which the conical tip 36 is inflow-stopping relation to the meter-- ing orifice '25. The valve member35 is, in etfect, a needle valve and when it is in the raised position,flow is permitted from the inlet 12 to the outlet 13 by the force of thefluid at the inlet causing the diaphragm 20 to rasie off its seat 15.However, when the valve member 35 closes the metering orifice 25, adilferential pressure is established across the diaphragm by reason ofthe force of the fluid entering the chamber 28 through the bleed opening26, causing the diaphragm to close against the annular seat 15.

An electric solenoid structure indicated generally at 40 in FIG. 1 isemployed for operating the valve member 35 from a suitable source of DC.power. The structure includes an iron or ferrous frame 41 which isgenerally C-shaped in profile and has a lower flange 42 supported on thebody 11 by the screw 32. The frame 41 receives therein an electricsolenoid coil positioned between an upper frame flange 44 and the lowerflange 42. The coil 45 is annularly wound and forms an axially open core46 within the ends of which are inserted steel cylindrical bushings 48and 49. The bushings are received within annularly indented or raisedportions 50 formed in each of the upper and lower flanges of the frame41 and retain the coil 45 in aligned position on the valve 10. In thisposition, the elongated upper extension 34 of the nonmagnetic housing30" is received within the interior of the bushings 48 and 49 coaxiallywithin the coil 45, but extending only partially the length of thecentral opening 46 formed on the coil 45.

The valve of this invention further includes a reed switch 55 which ismagnetically associated with the flux produced by the coil 45. The reedswitch 55 has leaves 56 and 57 encapsulated within a glass envelope 58forming normally open contacts which close under the infiuence of themagnetic field produced by the coil 45. The reed switch 55 is positionedin closely coupled magnetic relation with the coil 45 by an insert 60which supports and isolates the reed switch 55. The insert 60 may beformed of non-magnetic material, such as polyvinyl chloride and has alower depending portion 61 received within the coil 45 in the upperbushing 48. The reed switch 55 is positioned within a hollow formed inthe lower depending portion 61 in closely coupled relation to themagnetic structure formed by the frame 41 and the coil 45, and isretained in place by suitable potting compound 62 filling the interiorof the insert 60. Suitable reed switches for electric solenoid watervalves may, for example, be the minature Form A manufactured by Hamlin,Inc., Lake Mills, Wisc.

The valve with the associated reed switch 55 is preferably employed inan electric circuit in which the reed switch forms part of a holdingcircuit for the valve 10. For this purpose, the valve coil 45 isoperated from a source of DC. power, preferably a low voltage sourcesuch as 24 volts D.C., for example. 7

Two valves 10 constructed according to this invention are shown in FIG.28 as applied for the control of the flow of water in an electric toiletcontrol circuit. A transformer 70 may be provided as shown in FIG. 2with a full wave rectifier bridge 72, as well known in the art forming asource of 24 volt DC power. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, a fragment of awater closet tank 80 is shown including a co-axial ejector 82 foremptying the water from the tank into a toilet boil, not shown, in themanner described and claimed in the above-identified Armstrong et al.Patent 3,082,433. Similarly, the tank 80 may be provided with a liquidlevel-responsive switch 85 which is connected to a downwardly extendingpipe 86 extending into the interior of the tank, and which is responsiveto upper and lower liquid levels within the tank, as described in theabovementioned patent.

The circuit shown in FIG. 2 in which two of the valves as shown in FIG.1 are employed is particularly useful in place of the circuit shown inFIG. 10 of the Armstrong et al. patent for operation on low voltageD.C., and in which there is a fill valve 90 for admitting water into theinterior of the tank 80 and a separate flush valve 91 for initiatingflushing operation by discharging into the injector 82. This circuitalso includes a mode selector switch 95, corresponding to the switch 65disclosed in that patent, and a momentary push button 96 for initiatinga flushing operation, corresponding to the switch 50 therein.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the push button switch 96 is momentarilyenergized it applies power through section A of switch 95, in theposition shown, to operate the solenoid 45 of the flush valve 91. Theassociated reed switch 55 is closed with the energization of the coil45. This switch is in a circuit connected to the power source 72 throughsection C of the selector switch 95 and the raised or upper portion ofthe liquid level switch 85 to the solenoid coil 45, forming a parallelholding circuit for the valve 91. However, since the starting current tothe coil 45 is applied by the push button 96, only the holding currentflows through the reed switch 55. For example, with solenoid valveswhich have coils 45 adapted for operation from a direct current sourceof 24 volts, it has been found that the reed switch 55 need carry only0.3 ampere of current.

The reed switch 55 of the valve 91 accordingly forms a holding circuitwhich is not interrupted until the water level has reached apredetermined low position at which time the liquid level switch movesto its second position thereby interrupting the holding circuit to thevalve coil, closing the valve 91. The inductive voltage at opening iscarried by the contacts of the level switch and not by the reed switch55.

The fill valve is. then operated by the closed contacts of the levelswitch 85 which occur at the lower level, applying power directly to thesolenoid coil of this valve through section B of the selector switch 95,and will continue to operate until interrupted by the movement of theswitch 85 to its first position, signaling that the tank 80 has beenfilled. The mode selector 95, which is shown in the full tank mode inFIG. 2, operates in the manner described for the corresponding switch 65in the Armstrong et al. patent. In the moved position of this switch,the operation of the push button 96 applies energizing power directly tooperate the fill valve 90, resulting in the closing of a holding circuitthrough its associated reed switch 55 and contacts B of the switch untilthe tank is filled, at which time the holding circuit is interrupted bythe movement of the switch 85 to the first position shown. At this time,the switch 85 then applies power to the flush valve 91 through section Awhich is not interrupted until the tank is again empty.

In the circuit of FIG. 2, only one of the reed switches 55 is used atany one time, depending upon the position of the switch 95. The circuitis reliable in operation and eliminates the need for separate holdingrelays or timing devices. The reed switches 55 carry only the holdingcurrent, and therefore have a long service life.

The circuit of FIG. 3 shows an arrangement using a single valve 90 forboth flushing and filling, and as wired, operates in the normally emptymode. The valve 90' performs both a filling action to a tank and aflushing action by flooding the coaxial ejector in the manner describedin connection with the single-valve embodiment shown in FIG. 6 of theArmstrong et al. patent. The reed switch 55 of FIG. 3 forms part of aparallel holding circuit through the lower set of level switch contacts,as shown, maintaining the operation of the valve 90 during flushing andfilling. This circuit accordingly shows a highly simplified and low costversion which is nevertheless reliable in operation.

FIG. 4 is a modified circuit based upon the circuit of FIG. 2, in whichthe parts are designated with like reference numerals. The circuit ofFIG. 4 is particularly adapted for use with modern low-profile watercloset installations, in which the bottom of the water tank may, in someinstances, be below the water level within the bowl. In such cases, ithas been found highly desirable to add a ring valve 100 which operatesduring flushing and preferably during filling as well, to augment thewater supply in the bowl. In FIG. 4, the solenoid-operated ring valve100 is shown as being connected electrically in parallel with both theflush valve 91 and the fill valve 90, to achieve maximum benefit fromthe ring valve so that it may add make-up water to the bowl duringfilling as well as to augment the flushing action and to wash down thebowl during flushing. For this purpose, pairs of reed switches 55, suchas the switch 55a and 55b are positioned within the non-magnetic insert60, as shown in FIG. 5, and are potted in place by the compound 62.Thus, each of the pair of reed switches 55a and 55b are closedmagnetically coupled to the flux produced by the solenoid coil 45.

For the purpose of providing an energizing circuit for the valve 100,the switches 55b are each connected in common with its associated switch55a, to the associated coil 45. The reed switches 55a each operatein'the manner described in connection with the circuit of FIG. 2. Theswitches 55b are each connected to apply energizing power to the coil ofthe ring valve 100 so that the valve 100 is operated at any time thateither the fill valve 90 or flush valve 91 is operated. While theswitches 55b in this embodiment carry the starting currents for thevalve 100, the starting current on a coil operating from a DC. source isnot particularly destructive of contacts as compared to the interruptingvoltage across the coil. Again, in this embodiment, as in the precedingcircuit embodiments, the reed switches are not subject to theinterrupting voltage but this is taken by the electrical contacts in theliquid level switch 85. Again, as in the circuit of FIG. 2, the modeselector switch 95 provides selection between normally filled andnormally empty tank operation.

It will therefore be seen that this invention provides a solenoidoperated flow control valve which incorporates a magnetically operatedreed switch within its magnetic structure. Such valves are particularlyuseful in circuits, such as disclosed herein, in which the reed switchwhich is associated forms a holding circuit for the valve untilinterrupted by the occurrence of a circuit change elsewhere. While suchvalves are particularly useful with the electric toilets disclosed andclaimed in the Armstrong et al. patent, they may obviously be usedelsewhere, such as in other home appliances, where safe and dependableoperation is desired, with the elimination of the need for holdingrelays.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferredembodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes mayhe made therein without departing from the scope of the invention whichis defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A solenoid-operated toilet fill and flush valve circuit adapted foroperating an electric toilet or the like from a source of low voltage DCcomprising a two-position water level switch responsive to the level ofwater supply to such toilet having one position corresponding to a lowwater level and a second position corresponding to a high water level, aWater fill valve having an operating solenoid, a momentary switchconnected to apply power from said source to said fill valve, amagnetically operated reed switch magnetically associated with said fillvalve solenoid and connected to apply power from said source to saidfill valve solenoid through one of said switch positions of said waterlevel switch for continuing the operation of said fill valve untilinterrupted by the operation of said water level switch, asolenoid-operated flush valve for said toilet, and a further said reedswitch magnetically associated with the solenoid of said flush valve andconnected to apply power from said source to said flush valve throughsaid water level switch.

2. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising a solenoidoperated ringvalve adapted to apply flushing water directly to the bowl of suchtoilet, and circuit means connecting said ring valve for operationconcurrently with one of said fill or fiush valves.

3. The circuit of claim 2 in which said circuit means connecting saidring valve for operation concurrently with one of said fill or flushvalves includes a further said reed switch magnetically associated withthe solenoid of said one valve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,487,052 11/1949 Hastings335-151 X 3,373,449 3/1968 Rusnok 4-100 3,082,433 3/1963 Armstrong et a14-44 FOREIGN PATENTS 477,661 1/ 1938 Great Britain.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner T. B. JOIKE, Assistant ExaminerU.S. Cl. X.R.

